Improved machine for cutting soap



UNITED STATES PATENT rricn.

RUSS JOHNSON, OF URBANA, MARYLAND.

lMPFtOVED MAHINE FOR CUTTINGSOAP.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 44,806, dated Uctober 25, 1864.

To all whom it -may concern:

Be it known that I, Ross JOHNSON, of `Urto the accompanying drawings', making a part of this specification, in whichlFigure l is a perspective view of my improved machine complete. Fig. 2 is a verti cal longitudinal section through the machine, showing the method of operating it to eut a mass of soap into bars.

' Similar letters of .reference indicate corresponding parts in the several gures.

This invention relates toa machine for cutting a large mass oi' soap into bars, after the molding-frames have been removed from it.

The object et m-yinvention'is to arrange the wires winch are used to cut the soap in planes at right angles to each other within a movable :frame that is mounted upon a carriage in such manner thatw whenthe machine is moved up to a mass of soap the latter can be cut through, both vertically and horizontally, by two m'ove-4 ments of said frame, as will be hereinafter described.

sents a horizontal platform havingtwo parallel arms, A A', projecting from its forward end, which leave aspace between them of sufficient width to admit a mass of soap, that isto be out into bars. This platform is mounted upon wheels which allow it to be moved up to and from the mass of soap, and thus obviate the l necessity of moving-the latter up to the rua-4 chine.

This carriage supports an upright frame, which is composed of four vertical posts, B B,suitably braced together, and se` cured'at their lower ends into longitudinall sills a a, which latter'should be mountedupon longitudinal rails b. These rails extend from the forward end of the carriage to its rear end, ,and serve as guides for the frame B, to keep it i'n place in its bahn and forward movements.

This sash C is provided with two rows of wires, o c', which are arranged in planes at right angles to each other The wires c, which are arranged in a vertical plane, one over the other, are intended for cutting the mass of soap into horizontal'slabs, and forthis purpose the frame B is moved upon the'car-A riage A. The wires c', which are arranged in a horizontal plane at the base of the sash are intended for re-cutting the soap, or cutting up the slabs into bars, and for this purpose the sash alone is moved either upward or downward.

Handles vmay be applied to the sides of the sash C by means ot which this sash can bc moved by hand, and, if desirable, the sash C may be suspended by weights and cords.

`This latter arrangement contemplates the movement of the sash by hand, but it is obvious that this sash can be moved by mechani cal power, if it is found necessary. A

The ends ofthe wire cutters are represented inthe drawings as being secured directly to the vertical sides of the sash C, but in practice the ends of thcsewires may be secured to springs in such manner that the wires will take the formof a bow during the act of cutting the soap.

The frame B, together with the sash which this Kframesupports, is reciprocated by means 'of a horizontal rack,G, and a spurred pinion,

G', which latter is'keyed to ahori'zontal trans- I verse crank-shaft,'G2. The rack'G is .secured at its forward end to the'center ot' av transverse brace'of frame B and extending back. Thisv rack is supported and guided by a trans verse beam of the frame H, which supports the crank-shaft G, as shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 2, I have represented, by the aid'of rediand blue'lines, the operation of cutting a mass of soap into bars. The blue lines indicate the position of the sash C when the mass of soap, which is'indicated in red, has beencut into horizontal slabs. The dotted blue lines indicate' the position of said sash when the soap has been cut into-bars. It will be seen that the machine -is moved'up to the soap so as to bring the latter `Within the two bars A.

A of theplatform. The frames B C are then forced forward, after which the frame or sash C is forced upward. If desirable,` the sash O maybe brought over the mass of soap pre- 5 vionsly to cutting; it, so as to eut the soap at first in vertical slabs, and then out it horizon tally. The result iii/both operations will b e the same. v

Tlre'advantage of arranging the Wire out ters in planes at right angles to eachother is that I am enabled to secure these Wires in a single frame or sash, and bring one set of Wires in a proper position for Iperforming the second out by the movement of said sash in perform-V `1 ing the first out.

ln arrangements hitherto constructed lfor cutting soap the Wires are arranged in independent movable or tired fram,es,'whioh re- -quire separate appliances for moving them, and also appliances for moving the soap. Ly my invention itis notv necessary to remove the mass lof soap or adjust it upon the machine,` as the machine itselt' is adapted for rei ceiving the soap within it in the proper position to be out, and after the soap is out the maehineyis bodily moved oil', leaving the former standingin its original position.

' What claim-as new, and desire to secure y by Letters Patent, is-

, l. Arranging the wire cutters in a single frame, C, and in planes at right anales to each l other, so that during the act of making one l out the Wires for making the suceeding out will bebrought in their proper position for 5 this purpose, substantially as described.

2. The vertically-movable wire frame C, in combination with the horizontally-reoiprooatin g frame B, substantially' as described.

3. Mounting the cutter-carrying frame upon a carriage which is 'adapted to inolose, or partly inclose, the mass of soap to be out, while the latter `remains upon the iioor or blocks, substantially as described. Q

4. A vertically-movable frame, C, horizon- 1 tally-reciprocating frame B, and a movable f carriage, A A A', all combined and operating` substantially as described.

Cutting,r frames of soap into bars by i means of machinery Without the necessity' of removing the 'frame or soap from the blocks l upon which they are left standing after being molded, substantially as described.

Witness my hand in matter of my application fora patentfor machine for cutting masses of soap into bars'. l

ROSS JOHNSON.

l i l i Witnesses R. T. CAMPBELL, y E. SCHAFER'. 

